Main menu

Chilam Balam by Thomas Merton

I came across a book of poetry, The Geography of Lograire by Thomas Merton, in a used book store in New Orleans a bunch of years ago. I sat in Jackson Square, a great place to watch the world, and read bits and pieces of the book. I found the poem below particularly enjoyable. Note I am not a Mayanist, beyond a few courses and a single field season in Guatemala, and don’t vouch for whatever Merton’s scholarship in attributions to anything. Rather, the poem presents images and concepts that are good to think about.

1. “They came to TisipWith pepper in their speechIn 11 AhauCleared cornfieldsBuilt a city.”2. They were received like FathersWith nodding plumes at the well’s edgeIn ItzaThus they were called the “Itzaes.”3. Sunrise. New Kingdom.Fresh wakes sweet tropic earth!Tribute paid in cottonFor the Four Men(North South East West)In Chichen.Then the LordsRich in cottonMeet GodsEqual in voice to GodsAnd those whose voicesWere not equal to Gods’ voicesWere thrown in the wellTo cry louder.4. Then came LawsHigh pyramidsThirteen Itzaes in majestyWith pepper in their prayersMade deals with the RaingodsIn clouds of smoke.5. “Our Gods have grown bigger” they saidThen bitter times beganThe plain smokeAll the way to the sea.6. Thirteen katuns they ruled.Until the treason of Hunac CeelDriven from their cities into jungle4 Ahua was the katunThe wail of livesThirteen katuns of suffering and lawAnd they were called in the end“The Remnant of Itzaes”The last few built Mayapan“Maya men”Was their new name.7. LamentationPriest of XiuSlow along the cavern wallFrom altar to altarOn the well’s rim.8. “The priest asks for green bark. Thirteen times he strips all flowers and all leaves off the branches. He strips them utterly bare. He binds the stripped branches in a bundle. Katuns without hope!”9. Prayer in the cavernFor the last timePitch dark wellStopping at the altarsBlind fingers explore the facesOf rock signsFigures cut in the wallSpell: “Justice exits”“Heaven exists”And the prophet Chilam answersHix binac hix mac(Maybe yes maybe no)“But we carry the sons of Itza on our backs like boulders.”And the priests have come to the end of submissionThe end of desire.They are about to destroy themselves because of the injuries done to our people.10. FACE OF THE PRIEST CHILAM WHEN HE IS ON THE POINT OF ENTERING THE WELL OF THE CAVERN.

(The Geography of Lograire by Thomas Merton. 1968. New Directions Publishing, New York, pp. 31-33).